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I don't think we can use that fight as a evidence.
The facts seem to indicate that Silva wanted a ground battle to get the sub, it was the only time in his whole career that he wore the gui during the entrance. And you know pretty well what Chael said about Nog's BJJ.
In the 2nd fight the history was very different, Silva did what he always does, the fact that Chael was a powerful wrestler did not play the part most expected it to.
As for the "rib injury" i don't think it played a part, other then giving Silva pain and discomfort, perhaps slowing the process of getting the sub.

I don't think we can use that fight as a evidence.
The facts seem to indicate that Silva wanted a ground battle to get the sub, it was the only time in his whole career that he wore the gui during the entrance. And you know pretty well what Chael said about Nog's BJJ.
In the 2nd fight the history was very different, Silva did what he always does, the fact that Chael was a powerful wrestler did not play the part most expected it to.
As for the "rib injury" i don't think it played a part, other then giving Silva pain and discomfort, perhaps slowing the process of getting the sub.

Every fight can be used as evidence. You can't look past a fight just because it doesn't play in the favor of your opinion.

Silva may have wanted the sub. He sure as hell wasn't trying very hard for it early in the fight though.

The seconds fight seemed to be all the same... at least at the beginning. A strong case could be argued Sonnen would have taken Silva down again if he didn't hold his shorts. Silva is better than Sonnen. I'm not arguing that. I'm arguing Silva has a major wrestling weakness. Something that has been apparent against guys like Lutter and Hendo as well. IMO the greatest of all time isn't a guy who was used as a punching bag / wrestling dummy by a guy who is now 27 and 13.

Like I said before. I don't know if we will ever see another fighter with Silva's reflexes, timing, and accuracy. He's an amazing fighter who does things inside the cage which seem downright impossible. Is he the greatest of all time? In my opinion, no he's not. I think Jones is well on his way to gaining that title. I think GSP is also up there. Neither one of those guys have any weaknesses.

Is Silva the most impressive fighter of all time? I would lean towards yes. I just wish the Maia and Leites fights never happened.

... I think the "best" are the guys like Jones and Gsp... Who are great in every area.

Anderson is amazing. I'm not taking that away from him. I just don't think you can call a guy "the best" who had a record set for the most strikes landed against.

So, by your logic, Anderson being dominated by a top wrestler with skyhigh ilegal T levels while suffering himself a busted rib, in a fight he won by epic and technical submission, puts him behind GSP, who was KTFO and had his belt stripped from him?
Give me a break, here.

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LOL @ essentially saying Jones and GSP aren't as good as Silva because they didn't get dominated for 4.5 rounds!

Jones nearly had his arm ripped from its socket by Vitor and still dominated the fight. GSP nearly had his head removed from his shoulders by Condit and still dominated the fight. If losing 23 minutes of a 25 minute fight makes Anderson Silva the greatest fighter alive, then I've been praising the man for all of the wrong reasons.

Jones lost a toe in the cage and didn't drop a minute, let alone 23. GSP tore his groin and didn't drop a minute, let alone 23. No one will convince me that men who face serious injury yet don't falter and still decimate the competition are somehow inferior to a man who came within minutes of losing his title - at least, not on that basis or logic.

So, by your logic, Anderson being dominated by a top wrestler with skyhigh ilegal T levels while suffering himself a busted rib, in a fight he won by epic and technical submission, puts him behind GSP, who was KTFO and had his belt striped from him?
Give me a break, here.

And Anderson got tapped by a nobody. Let's not pretend he doesn't have some embarrassing losses of his own. GSP and Anderson are proof that anyone can get caught. The only one with an essentially unblemished record is Jon Jones.

Like I said before. I don't know if we will ever see another fighter with Silva's reflexes, timing, and accuracy. He's an amazing fighter who does things inside the cage which seem downright impossible. Is he the greatest of all time? In my opinion, no he's not. I think Jones is well on his way to gaining that title. I think GSP is also up there. Neither one of those guys have any weaknesses.

I can see a case made for Jones in the future, but St. Pierre¿ Really¿ He is a great fighter and rightfully among the top of the elite, no doubt, but apart from him being already finished in the UFC and being heavily rocked two fights ago, if you consider him having less of a weakness, because of his wrestling completing the allround package, you should also consider him having less strengths than Silva, namely neither having the level of striking, nor BJJ and most importantly nor the ability to finish fights that Silva has. Silva needs less than half the time to get his wins than St. Pierre in title fights.

I have calculated the time they needed to win their fights here (it doesn't include the most recent fights, but as St. Pierre didn't finish any of them, the stats would remain roughly the same) So in business terms Silva is about twice as economic/productive/effective.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voiceless

By the way, the last nine fights combined (St. Pierre's winning streak up to this day), St. Pierre spent (if I've calculated right) 174m39s in the Octagon to get his wins, while Silva just needed a bit more than half of the time with 98m32s to get the same goal. So in business terms Silva is almost twice as productive/effective.

In their last six fights (St. Pierre's number of title defenses) it's even more in favor for Silva with St. Pierre spending 145min in the Octagon and Silva 61m02s.

LOL @ essentially saying Jones and GSP aren't as good as Silva because they didn't get dominated for 4.5 rounds!

Hum, you didn't quote, so I am confused and forced to say I did't say that anyway.
The OP said Anderson is not the best because he was on the bottom for 23 minutes eating punches in one occasion and I think that was an impressive demonstration of will, toughness and perseverance that in no way demerits him in comparison tho others. That was it.

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"Although no one can go back and make a new beginning, anyone can change now and make a new end."